The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-09-29
TRAGEDY ON THEBEACH.

IhAGIIDN IN THE bEACHs
I'm the novels of the present day,
from the first page to the last, nothing
ever happens. If the young man throws
away the half-burned cigar, we have a
feeling Of gratitude as If that were an
incident, and we tell ourselves that
something has occurred. But in real life,
in the genuine realism, people still have
adventures. They get drowned; they
break their necks or their backs; they
die suddenly. In fact, in real life men
and women are even yet capable of
falling in love, violently and unreason-
ably"
Thus discoursed as we sat in front
of our tent late one afternoon. / had
been reading aloud from the pages of a
book recently published. My audience
consisted of Carlos, Mrs. Rankin. and
Max. Max was somnolent good deal
of the time. but would occasionally
rouse up and have the appearance, for
the space of half minute, of being
profoundly interested. Then he would
lapse into state of Inconsistencies.
Mrs. Rankin sat with her usual upright
ness, in camp chair which faced the
water. She had been with us since
noon, having brought some black buck
leberries and two large cucumbers,
which she insisted on giving US. She
said she wouldn't give cent for a
berry cake without slice of cucumber
with it. She was knitting an "open
work" cotton stocking for Lily as she
sat there. The day had been one of
really fearful heat, like SO many days
this summer. Every breath of wind
had now subsidized, and the water lay
cleaning holly beneath the red west.
Lily Rankin had come with her
grandmother, but had been out for two
hours now in dory by herself. The
child was as used to a dory, Mrs. Rankin
said, as other children were to rag
babies; and she seemed to think that
dories were as harmless as rag babies.
The red of the west was diffusing it
self through some rolling clouds. Mrs.
Rankin's eyes never seemed to leave
that bit Of boat that was rocking a
little beyond Seal Ledge. We could
make out the figure in it with broad
white hat hanging off the head.
Il expect Lily's marked with the
ocean," said Randy. "She'n set for
hours with the oars in the bottom of
the boat, jest gain an breathin'
deep. When l asked what she was
thinking about once she told me
she wasn't thinking about anything.
She was jest a-drinkin' it all into her
soul. o, do hope that the Lord won't
let that child suffer too much in this
world. She en- suffer, or enjoy, more
in a minute than most folks can in a
year"
She said this after l had closed my
book. During the reading she made
but one remark.
Seems to me" she said, .'the
Teller that wrote that must
have known an awful lot of
mighty common folks. If l had met
um face to face l wouldn't stay with
UNI minute. They'd tire me to death
But he has kind of knack, don't
he, somehow"
We did not feel like talking. On the
stretch of beach to the westward, where
the cottages were. everybody was out.
White dresses and gay ribbons were
there. Up on the ridge all the fisher
men and their wives and children were
out also, sitting on the single or NOV
ing indolently but restlesly, striving
for some sense Of ease in this close
atmosphere. Presently Maria Jane
Yates strolled up to our party and sat
down on the coarse grass. Everybody
looked pale and tagged. We asked
where Mr.. Yates was and were told
that he had just gone out in his dory.
He said," went on Maria Jane,
'.that he couldn't stand the heat on
shore another minute; and if it 'twa'n't
so hot out there he shouldn't come
back for midnight l declare this is
the toughest summer ever did know!
Is that Lily Rankin t'other side the
Ledger / seen her this long time. She
does bout she's mind to, don't she?"
Randy replied with asperity that "if
the girl hadn't mind to do anything
bad she for one didn't know why she
shouldn't do as she'd mind to-"
Nor / nuther.' said Maria Jane
heartily. '.Lily's a girl you can't help
lovin' to save your life. l guess Jim
Hatch thinks SO too
Randy started as if she had been
stung. Her worn face flushed pain
full crimson.
Jim Hatch!' she said violently.
"They amt a better teller on the
ridge, nor smarter colder and perch
err" maintained Mrs. Yates.